Term time holiday fine question.

Lieja

So if a PWC took a child out of school for a few days and didn't inform the non resident parent, the NRP would still have to pay a fine?!

merlin1

Lieja wrote: »

So if a PWC took a child out of school for a few days and didn't inform the non resident parent, the NRP would still have to pay a fine?!

Quite possibly, I would like to think however, that the NRP could claim exceptional circumstances if they weren't informed, or if they were informed and told 'tough' then an immediate letter to the school and the LEA informing of the PWCs intentions might be in order.

I will add though, this is all conjecture and assumption on my part as I am struggling to find anything that equates to a family where the parents have split. I have seen the 'parents' bit as in plural, but it doesn't expand any further.

pollypenny

xxlouisexx56 wrote: »

We've booked a holiday for next may/June departing on the tues in half term.

My daughter has autism, a full statement and a full time 1 to 1 helper.

20 months ago I was made redundant whilst on maternity leave. I'm now a full time mum to both my girls (7&2) whilst my partner works a full time job.

My DD simply can not cope with holiday places in the school holidays, they are too packed and noisy for her. So our compromise was to go for a few days in half term and then enjoy the peace when most people would leave to take their kids back to school.
Technically she will miss 7 days of school.
It's such a shame because my daughter loves to be on holiday and is at her best as she loves the sunshine, the beach, loves to swim. And as a full time mum to a child with special needs I also need a holiday.

I am hoping our holiday will be approved under the special circumstances.

A difficult one. I have sympathy. However, your daughter is getting expensive one to one support. What happens to her support during your holiday?

blackandwhitebunny

I think schools will still be able to exercise some discretion as the important bit is which code is used in the register. A headteacher might well decide in certain circumstances to code as 'authorised', no more explanation would be asked for by the LA or there is another code for not ill but authorized which is currently used for funerals etc.
Parents might decide to just budget for the fines but need to remember that below a certain attendance the educational welfare can become involved and they can end up being fined a lot more.

Kayalana99

What I don't understand is how quickly this has come into place...usally they set a law for 20XX, my Mum has had a hoilday booked to center parcs since april for late september....and now she has to pay a fine yet she has recieved no warning or letter saying so.

Their will be alot of pre booked hoildays where parents will have no idea untill sept so will either have to fake illness (like my mum plans on doing god knows?!) , cancel the hoilday or suck it up.

And whats with this PER PARENT crap?! So a married couple with kids now have to pay more then a single? I don't think its right to discrimate what kind of relationship people have.... if a married man wanted to take his son to the race track say ....would he still have to pay the £120 cause he couldn't prove he wasn't single? Or would it not matter because the parents arent divorced? Its mad.

merlin1

Kayalana99 wrote: »

What I don't understand is how quickly this has come into place...usally they set a law for 20XX, my Mum has had a hoilday booked to center parcs since april for late september....and now she has to pay a fine yet she has recieved no warning or letter saying so.

Their will be alot of pre booked hoildays where parents will have no idea untill sept so will either have to fake illness (like my mum plans on doing god knows?!) , cancel the hoilday or suck it up.

And whats with this PER PARENT crap?! So a married couple with kids now have to pay more then a single? I don't think its right to discrimate what kind of relationship people have.... if a married man wanted to take his son to the race track say ....would he still have to pay the £120 cause he couldn't prove he wasn't single? Or would it not matter because the parents arent divorced? Its mad.

I do agree, We tried to give the school 13 months notice, before the legislation starts. but its a no go.

FBaby

And whats with this PER PARENT crap?! So a married couple with kids now have to pay more then a single? I don't think its right to discrimate what kind of relationship people have.... if a married man wanted to take his son to the race track say ....would he still have to pay the £120 cause he couldn't prove he wasn't single? Or would it not matter because the parents arent divorced? Its mad.

I don't get this at all. Which parent gets fined? The nrp or the step-parent? After all, many nrps don't have parental rights, so surely they could argue that it has nothing to do with them. As for step-parents, surely they are not going down that route? They are getting enough flake with taxes to have to also now have to pay fines. The one time I took my kids off school this year (for the full 2 hours), I took my kids away alone. Surely my partner shouldn't have to pay for his non children going on holiday without him?

Valli

Guest101 wrote: »

Not at all, a penalty charge notice is exactly that, an out of court settlement, it is pleading guilty to the offence and paying the proposed amount to avoid court.

Actually an out of court settlement is an agreement reached in a (usually civil) case which then means the case doesn't progress to a court hearing at all...there is no guilty plea involved.

http://www.settleoutofcourt.com/

Kayalana99

Theirs so many 'what ifs' for something that basicly comes into effect in september.

merlin1

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Theirs so many 'what ifs' for something that basicly comes into effect in september.

there certainly is! It doesnt help knowing each LEA is interpreting things differently, so the best we can do is wait and see